In this module two assignment we are looking more closely at Smartphones in the workplace, what this looks like and what some of the implications might be, remembering that these are people’s personal and private devices that are being incorporated in the public space of work.

QUESTION

In this module two assignment we are looking more closely at Smartphones in the workplace, what this looks like and what some of the implications might be, remembering that these are people’s personal and private devices that are being incorporated in the public space of work.

 

Read:

Alton, L. (2017, Jun 22). One Decade Later: Are Smartphones All Good For The Workplace? Forbes. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/larryalton/2017/06/22/one-decade-later-are-smartphones-all-good-for-the-workplace/#33092c1558eb

 

A copy of the article has been pasted to the end of this assignment.

 

The research question framing your module response is:

 

Have Smartphones been a positive or negative contribution to the Workplace?

 

We know that this kind of technological integration is never really good OR bad (it’s not really that simple), it’s usually both (as the article notes). People have different experiences of technology broadly, and the Smartphone specifically. This is generally framed by people’s socio-demographics – gender, ethnicity, age, ableism, geography, and so forth.

 

However, you are asked to take a clear standpoint answering the research question in your submission – positive OR negative? Convince your reader.

 

The format of this submission is persuasive, in that you are convincing the reader of your opinion and supporting it with facts. You will have an introduction, body of discussion, and conclusion. In this submission, you need to restate the assignment research question above because it frames your response – your thesis statement and argument. (In this instance it is not considered a direct quote – you are required to restate it so that your intro/submission makes sense).

 

 

Your submission must include (this is also the Grading Rubric):

 

Introduction

-provides context and the question that’s being answered -properly cites Alton’s (2017) article

-provides the research question and answers it, providing opinion/thesis that will be argued -sets up the discussion of opinion/thesis & three supporting points -The intro is specific and not broad

 

Discussion section

-discusses three points in support of your opinion/response to question

-each point is supported by a reading or outside source (three different sources/one per point)

-the following two assigned M2 readings must be included (cited properly) in your discussion/as support of your opinion/thesis:

 

Bautista, J. R., Rosenthal, S., Lin, T. T., & Theng, Y. L. (2018). Predictors and outcomes of nurses’ use of smartphones for work purposes. Computers in Human Behavior, 84, 360-374.

 

Pink, S., Hjorth, L., Horst, H., Nettheim, J. & Bell, G. (2018). Digital work and play: Mobile technologies and new ways of feeling at home. European Journal of Cultural Studies, Vol. 21(1), 26–38.

 

-Additionally, you must provide one outside academic source that supports your opinion in the discussion. Academic means it is peer reviewed – so go with a journal article.

 

Conclusion

-offers a recap of the research questions, argument and supporting points -provides some compelling final thoughts for the reader

 

Other

-clear writing style with careful attention to grammar, punctuation and paragraph structure -an argument that is compelling and convincing and supported -sources are cited properly in APA format

-a reference list formatted in APA that includes Alton’s (2017) media article, the two M2 assigned readings, and your outside source.

 

Important Notes:

 

• The tone of this submission will depend on the student. You can either write in persuasive or opinion writing (which is emotion based), or argumentative writing, in which you are proving a point with evidence (which is logic based). It is up to you – but in your mind, you should know your intended audience, and keep the tone consistent throughout.

 

• You are required to stay within the minimum and maximum word count, or you will be penalized one mark. In-text citations are included in the word count. Reference list is not included in the word count. APA format does not include titles, page numbers, or running headers in the word count.

 

• Double space your submission. No need for title pages, or running header this assignment, but you can include if you like. Your pages should be numbered.

 

• A reminder that resources have been provided to you regarding APA citing & referencing style, paraphrasing, how to write critically, how to write a paper.. Properly cite and reference any readings that you use in APA format. Submissions that do not cite and reference material properly will not be accepted and will result in a zero. This means, if nothing is cited in your submission and/or there is no reference list – it will not be accepted. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure they are meeting university standards for academic writing, regardless of what your home department is.

 

• Please pay attention to your writing style: grammar and punctuation matter. Have someone proofread your work. Your submission must have an introduction, body/discussion, and conclusion (as noted). It should not be one paragraph.

 

• You can absolutely use more sources/evidence after the minimum has been met.

 

• Alton’s (2017) needs to be included and cited in the introduction because it is the context of the assignment. This means you have at least four sources cited in your Reference List.

 

• Your submission must include a Reference List (it is not called Works Cited or Bibliography) formatted in APA that includes a list of material you cited. Remember that Reference List entries are alphabetized.

 

• Do not use any direct quotes in your module submission. You will be penalized one mark if you use ANY direct quotes. Paraphrase and cite properly. The instructions note that you can restate the question in the assignment without penalty. Paraphrasing is a skill you learn.
• TAs cannot pre-read assignments before they are submitted. Please ask your TA specific questions about the assignment if you have them. Email is the best way to contact your TA rather than the Sakai Chat room.

 

• Please name your M2R file properly with course number, first name, last name, and assignment name. For example: COMM2F00FirstLastNameM2R.doc

 

How to submit this assignment:

 

• We will not be tracking down assignments: you must submit properly, on-time.
• Do not wait until the last ten minutes to submit your module response.

 

• Go to Assignments on Sakai.

 

• Click M2R and and click ‘Add Attachments’. The file must be a .doc file, or a .pdf file. (Note: If you are using a Mac, you can convert a Pages document into a word .doc file by going to the menu bar and choosing: ‘File’ – ‘Export’– ‘Word’).

 

• Files that cannot open and/or incorrect files will receive a grade of 0.
• Check and double check to ensure that the file is attached and is the correct file. After submitting, definitely review your submission so you can see/confirm the file.

 

• It is your responsibility to ensure that you have uploaded your file into Sakai. You have a maximum of five re-submission attempts BEFORE the deadline passes, so that you can save a working draft in the system if you choose.

 

Late Policy

 

 

penalty, and will only be accepted up to seven days past the due date, and the assignment closes on Sakai.

 

• A technical problem (in any shape or form) does not warrant an extension without late penalty.

 

• If you noticed that you uploaded the incorrect file, and then you submit the correct one late – you will be given a late penalty. Please make sure that you are submitting the correct file – this is why we name our files. Most of the people incorrectly submitting do not have their files names correctly/effectively.

 

• Requests to waive late penalties must be accompanied by medical documentation, which must include the Brock University medical form. You MUST notify your TA as soon as possible if you are ill – BEFORE the assignment is due.

https://brocku.ca/registrar/wp-content/uploads/sites/45/Medical-Certificate.pdf

 

Framework of Grading

Incomplete 50s D

Submission does not follow assignment guidelines or requirements. It does not include the required number of readings as support and/or does not use the readings effectively/properly. Does not include/cite/reference a media article. There are numerous errors in the format for citing; missing pertinent information in the reference list; fair number grammar/punctuation errors.

 

Inaccuracies 60s C

Submission is weak in key components of the assignment guidelines. The discussion is vague or mostly general and descriptive without connecting to standpoint or response. Connections between the discussion sections are not clearly made. There are major errors in the format for citing/referencing; considerable grammar and punctuation errors.

 

Needs Work 70s B

Submission mostly follows requirements, but has areas that need improvement (ie underdeveloped argument). The assignment is good and follows instructions, has required numbers of readings, and uses support reasonably well. The submission engages with the material and in a mostly meaningful manner; there are some descriptive components that could provide more of a critical or analytical focus. There are some minor errors in the format for citing/referencing but all the information is there; minor grammar/punctuation errors.

 

Meets Criteria 80s A

Submission follows guidelines and meets all assignment requirements in a coherent way. The assignment covers all that is specified and does so with clarity and precision. The discussion demonstrates analytical sophistication. The writing is clear and concise; very minor writing errors, no citing or referencing errors – there is very little to critique. Nothing is missing.

 

Exceeds Expectations 90 A+

Submission reflects a level of analysis that goes beyond what is expected at a second year course level.

 

One Decade Later: Are Smartphones All Good For The Workplace?

 

Alton, L. (2017, Jun 22). One Decade Later: Are Smartphones All Good For The Workplace? Forbes. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/larryalton/2017/06/22/one-decade-later-are-smartphones-all-good-for-the-workplace/#33092c1558eb

 

On June 29, 2007, the first iPhone was released. It’s only been a decade, but today it’s hard to imagine the world that existed before smartphones. Every facet of life has changed, including the American workplace.

 

The question is whether the change, on balance, has been good or bad.

 

A Look Back at the Origin of the Smartphone

 

It was on January 9, 2007, that Apple published a press release on its website titled, Apple Reinvents the Phone with iPhone. What might have struck some as a sensational headline ended up being a considerable understatement. A more appropriate title would have been: Apple Changes the World with iPhone.

 

CEO Steve Jobs called the product “revolutionary and magical.” Critics were amazed by how intuitive such a new piece of technology could be. Competitors quickly scrambled to create their own “smartphones.”

 

Here we are, a decade later, and smartphones are no longer regarded as revolutionary gadgets.

Instead, they’re viewed as necessary tools.

 

Look at your own life. You employ your smartphone to accomplish dozens, if not hundreds, of tasks on a daily basis. It acts as your alarm clock, camera, appointment reminder, portal to the internet, GPS, gaming system … the list goes on.

 

It’s just as ubiquitous in your professional life. Your smartphone is what you use to connect with everyone and stay up to date on what’s happening in the world at any given moment.

 

But when you sit down and think about it, has the smartphone utterly transformed the modern workplace for the better? There’s a valid argument on both sides.

 

The Positive Impact of Smartphones in the Workplace

 

Let’s begin this discussion by taking a look at some of the positives that are generally credited to smartphones in the workplace. Two that stand out the most are as follows:

 

1. Increased Productivity

 

Just last year, Samsung joined forces with Frost & Sullivan to survey 500 business leaders at various U.S. firms and learned that they believe smartphones lead to better productivity in the workplace. Specifically, the research indicates that, as a result of using smartphones, respondents

 

gained 58 minutes of work time each day, on average. They also saw productivity increase by an estimated 34 percent.

 

A number of unique factors are likely in play, but at least part of the reputed productivity boost has to do with the use of apps. Today, 51 percent of employees use apps that are mandated by their employer, which is up from just 27 percent six years ago.

 

To give you an idea of which kinds of apps are getting used, here are a couple popular ones:

 

Quire. One app that’s quickly become popular throughout corporate America is Quire. It’s essentially a modern task-management application that helps teams of people capture ideas – via text, camera and even Siri – anytime, anywhere and break them down into action steps that can be tracked easily.

 

Slack. You’ve probably heard of Slack, but it’s impossible to pass over. Slack is a communication app that’s far more efficient than email or phone. It empowers teams of people to communicate quickly and effortlessly without wasting energy on tasks that don’t add value. Clearly, apps like these improve workplace efficiency. When used appropriately, businesses have cost-effective options for handling pain points that previously demanded expensive tools and software platforms.

 

2. Lower IT Costs

 

Bring your own device (BYOD) strategies have become massively popular in the past few years

• and it’s probably inevitable that they’ll become the norm in the near future. But for all the arguments over whether BYOD strategies make sense or not, it’s hard to deny the cost savings when you allow employees to bring their own smartphones into the workplace.

 

When you let employees carry their own mobiles into the office, the organization is no longer responsible for supplying that expensive hardware. Instead, your firm gets the benefit of state-of-the-art technology without the financial investment. Granted, you still have to manage these devices and keep them secure, but this can be done cost effectively.

 

The Negative Impact of Smartphones

 

If you caught yourself raising your eyebrows and shaking your head as you read through the last half dozen paragraphs, then you’re probably one of the company owners who hasn’t entirely benefitted from seeing smartphones all over your workplace.

 

Perhaps you resonate more with the following two concerns:

 

1. Increased Distractions

 

In contrast to the research from Samsung and Frost & Sullivan, available data also suggests that smartphones can also be productivity sappers. According to a 2016 CareerBuilder survey of

 

more than 2,000 hiring managers and 3,000 full-time employees, 19 percent of employers believe employees are productive for less than five hours per day.

 

When asked what was to blame for this, 55 percent cited texting and smartphone usage as the primary culprit. “Interestingly, the survey reported that only 10% of respondents with smartphones said it’s decreasing their productivity while at the office, but 66% said they use their smartphones several times a day while working,” explains Madeline Farber of Fortune. “82% of employees said they keep their smartphone within eye contact.”

 

In other words, most people don’t even recognize the extent to which their smartphones could be distracting them … which is arguably more dangerous.

 

2. Higher Vulnerability to Outside Security Threats

 

Perhaps the biggest disadvantage to allowing personal smartphones and mobile devices in the workplace is that they increase company vulnerability to outside security threats. Each individual device represents a new portal through which a hacker could gain access to essential company files, servers, and programs.

 

In an age when cyber security is one of the chief concerns of IT departments, smartphones are often regarded as irresponsible. Most individuals don’t take the initiative to secure their devices properly and/or don’t want their employer having access to their personal property to install security measures.

 

The result is higher risk and more potential for disaster. The more time passes under such conditions, the greater the threat becomes.

 

How Do You Handle Smartphones?

 

The ultimate answer to the question of whether smartphones have had a positive or negative impact on the American workplace must be: “It depends.” Under the right corporate leadership, smartphones are tools for good. Given the wrong guidance, they can be potentially harmful.

 

How do you handle smartphones in your organization? Have you set clear guidelines, or is it a free-for-all? Have you even given the issue any consideration before now?

 

Clearly, smartphones have a place in the modern workplace. But we all have to decide how we’re going to handle them so they become tools for productivity and efficiency, not 3×5-inch vessels of distraction and openings for invasion.

 

A strong and clear strategy will serve your company best in the long run.

ANSWER

The Impact of Smartphones in the Workplace: Leveraging Productivity and Efficiency

Introduction

In the past decade, smartphones have become an integral part of our lives, including the workplace. The question arises: have smartphones been a positive or negative contribution to the workplace? In this persuasive essay, I will argue that smartphones have made a positive impact on the workplace. While acknowledging that there are valid concerns and drawbacks associated with their use, the overall benefits outweigh the negatives. By examining the increased productivity, lower IT costs, and acknowledging the challenges of increased distractions and security threats, it becomes clear that smartphones have brought significant advantages to the workplace.

Increased Productivity

One of the key advantages of smartphones in the workplace is the increased productivity they enable. According to a survey conducted by Samsung and Frost & Sullivan, business leaders believe that smartphones lead to better productivity (Bautista, Rosenthal, Lin, & Theng, 2018). The survey revealed that respondents gained an average of 58 minutes of work time each day and experienced a 34% increase in productivity. This can be attributed, in part, to the use of productivity-enhancing apps. For example, apps like Quire and Slack have revolutionized task management and communication within teams (Alton, 2017). These apps provide efficient ways to capture ideas, communicate, and track progress, leading to improved workplace efficiency. Thus, smartphones have proven to be valuable tools for enhancing productivity.

Lower IT Costs

The adoption of bring your own device (BYOD) strategies has gained popularity in recent years, offering significant cost savings for organizations. Allowing employees to use their personal smartphones in the workplace eliminates the need for companies to provide expensive hardware (Alton, 2017). This approach allows organizations to benefit from state-of-the-art technology without the financial burden. While managing and securing these devices remains a responsibility, it can be done cost-effectively. By embracing BYOD strategies, organizations can leverage the latest smartphone technologies while reducing IT costs.

Increased Distractions

It is important to acknowledge the concerns regarding increased distractions caused by smartphones in the workplace. A survey conducted by CareerBuilder found that texting and smartphone usage were cited as the primary culprits for decreased productivity by 55% of employers (Alton, 2017). However, it is crucial to note that employees themselves may not fully recognize the extent to which smartphones distract them. While this is a valid concern, it highlights the need for clear guidelines and policies regarding smartphone usage at work. By establishing rules and expectations, organizations can address the issue of distractions and create a balance between smartphone usage and productivity.

Higher Vulnerability to Security Threats

Another drawback associated with smartphones in the workplace is the increased vulnerability to outside security threats. Each personal device represents a potential portal for hackers to gain access to company files and sensitive information. However, this challenge can be mitigated through appropriate security measures and employee education. Companies can implement strict security protocols, including encryption, mobile device management, and employee training on cybersecurity best practices (Pink et al., 2018). By addressing these concerns proactively, organizations can minimize the risk of security breaches.

Conclusion

In conclusion, smartphones have made a positive impact on the workplace, although challenges exist. The increased productivity resulting from the use of smartphones and productivity-enhancing apps has been well-documented. Additionally, the adoption of BYOD strategies has proven to be cost-effective for organizations. While concerns regarding distractions and security threats are valid, they can be addressed through clear guidelines, policies, and security measures. Ultimately, smartphones can be valuable tools for enhancing productivity and efficiency in the workplace when used responsibly. It is essential for organizations to establish a clear strategy that harnesses the benefits of smartphones while minimizing their drawbacks. By doing so, smartphones can become powerful assets that contribute positively to the modern workplace.

References

Alton, L. (2017, Jun 22). One Decade Later: Are Smartphones All Good For The Workplace? Forbes. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/larryalton/2017/06/22/one-decade-later-are-smartphones-all-good-for-the-workplace/#33092c1558eb 

Bautista, J. R., Rosenthal, S., Lin, T. T., & Theng, Y. L. (2018). Predictors and outcomes of nurses’ use of smartphones for work purposes. Computers in Human Behavior, 84, 360-374. https://dr.ntu.edu.sg/bitstream/10356/105778/1/Predictors%20and%20outcomes%20of%20nurses%E2%80%99%20use%20of%20smartphones%20for%20work%20purposes.pdf 

Pink, S., Hjorth, L., Horst, H., Nettheim, J. & Bell, G. (2018). Digital work and play: Mobile technologies and new ways of feeling at home. European Journal of Cultural Studies, Vol. 21(1), 26–38. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1367549417705602